Chabad Toddler’s Caretaker to Arrive in Israel

December 1, 2008

The Indian caretaker who saved a 2-year-old Jewish boy from the Mumbai Chabad House siege is expected to arrive in Israel.

Sandra Samuel escaped with Moshe Holtzberg several hours into the siege, which began Nov. 26 and ended late Nov. 28. The terrorists killed Moshe’s parents, Mumbai Chabad emissaries Rabbi Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg. Their bodies are expected to be flown to Israel for a funeral Monday.

Samuel is scheduled to arrive the same day in Israel and be given special permission to enter the country by the Interior Ministry, the Jerusalem Post reported. The ministry is considering granting her the title of “righteous gentile,” Army Radio reported, allowing her to remain in Israel for an extended period of time.

Though the toddler was reunited Nov. 28 with his paternal grandparents, who flew to India from New York City, for now he is responding only to Samuel, Ynet reported. His maternal grandparents traveled to India from Israel.